Although they are related, user experience (UX) design and UX research are fundamentally different. The two are connected because the work of the UX Researcher lays the foundation for the design and demonstrates whether or not the team is on the right track. UX Designers lead the entire design thinking process, while UX Researchers specialize in collecting and analyzing data.
The UX Design Process
The UX design processis based on the questions why, how, and what. The process starts with research to discover why the user experience is what it is. The goal of this phase is to understand what the user wants from the experience. The Designer conducts surveys and interviews to discover the motivation and goals of users.
The definition phase involves using the data collected along with analytics to create a detailed description of the user experience. This phase involves creating user personas, flowcharts, and mapping to uncover patterns and trends.
Once the patterns emerge, design enters the third phase in which team members generate ideas about how to solve problems and improve the experience. A rough sketch of the product is developed, and from that come wireframes and prototypes.
The next phase is testing the product or website to see the user experience is what was expected. Depending upon the test results, there may be a redesign phase to improve the experience further.
Qualities of UX Designers
Some qualities that successful UX Designers exhibit are empathy, curiosity, humility, attention to detail, meticulousness, organization, attentiveness, and the ability to communicate well. UX designers need to imagine themselves in the users’ position so they can determine the best solutions for the particular problem.
UX Designers love solving problems and puzzles and are fascinated by people and why they do what they do. They work well with others as a team to figure things out. They also create wireframes and prototypes of websites and products.
Qualities of UX Researchers
Good UX researchers need to be good communicators, enjoy interacting with people, and have good attention to detail. As with designers, one of the important qualities of a researcher is empathy, the ability to imagine what a user is experiencing. This helps when formulating interview and survey questions. Pragmatism is another important quality, which means that the researcher can keep in mind the cost and effort of getting the information and weigh it against the time and budget constraints of the project. Collaboration is also important because researchers are part of the design team and need to work together with the other members. Finally, research is only as good as the data collected, so the ability to perform tests consistently and record results accurately is crucial to good research.
When Does Research Happen?
Because UX design is a team effort that repeats as needed, research comes in at different times in the product development cycle. There are four basic stages of research:
- Foundational—Also known as strategic research, foundational research happens before the project gets the official go-ahead. This is the phase where data are gathered to assess the general situation.
- Definition—This phase of research defines the problem and identifies the pain points users are experiencing as they try to accomplish their goals.
- Design—This phase builds on the others and looks at how the product should be built.
- Post-launch—Post-launch research tests the success of the product and points to improvements for the future.
What Do UX Researchers Do?
UX Researchers conduct different types of tests to find out about users’ attitudes and behaviors toward the website or app under development. They conduct quantitative and qualitative research to test the product and then report on their findings. UX researchers conduct interviews, run surveys, and perform usability studies of various types. Then they analyze the data and report their findings to the design team.
What Do UX Designers Do?
UX Designers take the information gathered through the research and then create a design that meets the needs of the users and the business or client the Designer is working for. Designers create personas of users and mockups of products or websites. They analyze data that was collected and give presentations to clients and workshops to other members of the design team. Finally, designers test the product or website to see if it works the way it was expected to, and the process begins again. Designers are always looking to create the best user experience possible and sometimes that means going back and making changes.
Where to Learn UX Design
If you would like to learn more about UX design and research to switch to a new career, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn design software and other applications. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a field like UX design is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run from a few weeks to a few months and another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.
Conclusion
It’s easy to learn UX design and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s UX design classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX design courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other UX design bootcamps in your area.